Kim Jong-un warns U.S. it is in range of his nuclear arsenal

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un rung in the new year with an ominous warning for the United States: The entire country is within range of his nuclear-armed ICBMs, and that “the button” to launch them is always by him.

Warning that the U.S. would “never start a war against me and our country,” he also said it was imperative to ramp up nuclear production.

“We must mass-produce nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles and speed up their deployment,” said Kim in his annual address to the nation.

“The U.S. should know that the button for nuclear weapons is on my table. This is reality, not a threat. The entire area of the U.S. mainland is within our nuclear strike range. … The United States can never start a war against me and our country,” he said.

During his address, Kim also called for new dialogue and improved relations with South Korea, adding that the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics would be a good time to showcase the status of his country.

Former Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen issued a dire warning on Sunday, saying he believes the U.S. and North Korea are closer than ever to nuclear war.

“We’re actually closer, in my view, to a nuclear war with North Korea and in that region than we have ever been. I don’t see the opportunities to solve this diplomatically at this particular point,” he told ABC News. [source]

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Jon E. Dougherty is a political, foreign policy and national security analyst and reporter with nearly 30 years of experience in both fields. A U.S. Army veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, he holds BA in Political Science from Ashford University and an MA in National Security Studies/Intelligence Analysis from American Military University.